Rooms

Spread over three floors, the 18 bedrooms blend townhouse smartness with seaside sassiness. Elegant headboards and smart upholstered armchairs mix with fun feature wallpapers (perhaps shells, meadow-flowers or nautical stripes) and seaside touches, such as framed beachcomber finds, model ships and vintage postcards. Some have exposed stone walls and beams which, together with leather chairs and plain-wood furniture, lend a down-to-earthiness. Big tassled tie-backs, gleaming Anglepoise lamps and vintage pressed-glass tumblers add a touch of glamour.

Bathrooms have a contemporary-cottage feel, with tongue-and-groove panelling, solid sinks, underfloor heating and soothing shades. Push the boat out (ho ho) with a Heritage room and you’ll be wowed with copper baths, chandeliers and some of the best views.

We liked the bath under the window in Yarkin and in Craa’s Nest (where we stayed), and the window-seats in Hyem and Canty (Northumbrian dialect words, in case you're wondering). Locally made shortbread and Belgian chocolate fingers are nice touches.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• WiFi

Eating

The restaurant-lounge, The Towers has a lively, clubby feel, with its leather chairs, parquet floor and mix of kitchen and nautical paraphernalia. Not surprisingly, the menu bubbles with hearty fishy dishes - great, straightforward stuff for hungry diners after a day of bracing sea air. Local oysters or mussels could be followed by their signature fisherman’s pie, or beer-battered fish and chips with crushed minted peas. Home-made burger – a tower of two beef patties and home-made chutney - is another favourite, and there are always daily specials. Dishes are cooked without pretension; vegetarians are not ignored, but may feel overshadowed.

Breakfast is another hearty affair, including local kippers, eggs how you want – we loved our plates of bright-yellow, creamy scrambled eggs – and a full vegetarian, as well as a standard grill.

The Hotspur Bar prides itself on a discerning menu of wines, local beers and a unique range of spirits, and pitches itself very much as the beating heart of the village.

Features include:

• Bar
• Coffee maker
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• The sheltered 3km curve of Beadnell beach is one of the most attractive on the Northumberland coast
  
• Other beaches include pretty Low Newton, the long sands of Bamburgh nestled below the eponymous castle (both 8km) and breezy Alnmouth (24km)
  
• Step up the adrenaline levels with kite-surfing, windsurfing or coasteering; the hotel can arrange lessons
  
• Bird- and wildlife-lovers will enjoy boat trips to the Farne Islands to spot seabirds and seals, or scanning Budle Bay for winter waders such as geese and wigeon
  
• Pick a castle: besides Bamburgh, there are the gaunt ruins of Dunstanburgh near Craster (14km), and the glittering interiors of Alnwick (22km)
  
• Alnwick is worth a day-visit: castle aside, there’s the contemporary-style Alnwick Garden and sturdy independent shops including Barter Books, one of the UK’s largest second-hand bookshops
  
• And it's only half an hour's drive (tide permitting) to the eerily beautiful monastic island and castle of Lindisfarne

Kids

As Beadnell is a seaside resort, not surprisingly, the hotel is happy to look after families, although family rooms are limited. Children’s menus are available.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The best rooms for families are Shiel, Harberance and Canty as these have double sofabeds; Harberance has a private entrance and also interconnects with adjoining Faad. There are two further sets of interconnecting rooms (Canty and Hyem, and Muckle Hoose and Lonnen). In addition, most Heritage and Delightful rooms can take an extra bed, and all can take a baby cot

Distances:

• Airport: 60 minutes (Newcastle)
• Hospital: 20 minutes (Alnwick)
• Shops: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Beadnell Towers is on one of the main streets of the seaside village of Beadnell – 22km north east of Alnwick – and a 10-minute walk from the beach. The hotel is just off the B1340, part of Northumberland’s scenic coastal route. The quickest route to the A1 is around 15 minutes.

By Car
London is 6 hours, Edinburgh 2 hours, Newcastle 1 hour.

By Train
Beadnell is 23km/14.5m from Alnmouth station or 39km/24m from Berwick-upon-Tweed station, both on the main east coast line between Edinburgh (40m-1hr) and London Kings Cross (3.5h-4h).

By Air
The nearest airports are Newcastle and Edinburgh.

Detailed directions will be provided when you book through i-escape.